Signaling system



Jime' 1 ,"1926. 1,586,570

' v H. W. NICHOLS SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed August 31, 1922 /m enfonfiaro/d W A/fcho/sz Patentedi June 1 1926.

HAROLD W. NICHOLS, OF L IAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB'TO WESTERN ELEC-rmc contrary, mcoaronarnn,

xonx.

01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW BIGNLLING SYSTEM.

Application mum-t a1, 1922. surmise. 585,350. f

This invention relates .to signaling systems'and in connection with thehigh speedsignalm g systems, such as telegraph s stems.

An object of the invention is the provisionof means responsive to linecurrent chan es for producing in a local circuit a uniirectional currentirrespective. of the .ings are polarity of the line current impulses.

In accordancewith the above and other objects, the present invention(provides a pair of magneticallycontrolled evices responsive to linecurrent changes for producing inia local circuit including auxiliary controlled meansa 'llIll-dll'GCtlOIlfll polarizing current irrespective ofthe clarity of the line current impulse. Specifically, the inventionprovides a normally unpolarized relay having an operating windin'gand nagnetizing windings to control its operation.

In order to permit the operation of the relay in conjunction withta lowimpedance signaling circuit over which it is desirable to transmit thesignaling, impulsesat 'an extremely high speed, the magnetizingwindconnected in circuit with a pair of magnetically controlled vacuumtubes.

' Each tube consists of an evacuated envelope containing an electronemitting cathode and an anode, and provided with means for generating amagnetic field, whichnormally prevents or reduces between the cathodeand anode. Each tube is provided with a control magnetizing windingconnected to receive current from the sigualingconductor over which theimpulses are to be transmitted. The control windings are'oppositelyconnected to the-line and respond to current changes of opposite po-'larity for permitting cathode anode current to flow through themagnetizing windings of the relay. The current through the magnetizingwindings will be in the same direction irrespective of the character ofthe impulse impressed on the operating windingi' The operating windingof the relay is connected 111 series with the line and the armature is'attracted to one or the other of the poles according to the polarity ofthe signals. This provides a very sensitive relay arrangement readilyadaptable to low impedance circuits.

particularly to apparatus for use to a low Value the current Referrin tothe drawing, V Fig. 1 ilustrates schematically one embodiment of theinvention;

1F1g(i '2 shows the type of vacuum tube em- In Fig. lthere isshown arelay having a soft iron magnetic core 6, which has ole pieces "7 and 8supporting magnetizing windings 9 and 10. These magnetizing windings 9and 10 are connected in series. on a projecting portion of the magneticcore 6' is an armature 11 adapted to swing between the pole pieces 7 and8 In order that the armature 11 will, after each operation, be restoredto its central or neutral position, a retractile spring 12 is connectedto one end of armature 11. Operating winding 13 is adapted to magnetizethearmature 11 so that it may be attracted by either pole piece 7 or 8depending upon its pola-ri y.

In the drawing, tubes are represented-by the same reference characterswith the prime indices added. Connected in circuit withthe malgnetizingwindings 9 and 10 are two vacuum tubes 1-1 and the anode 20. The coil 22oftube 14 i and coil 22' of tube 15 are supplied with current from abattery 24 for providin a constant-flux through these coils. The uxproduced by current in coils 22 and 22 is preferably of such a value asto I prevent the flow of current through the tubes so that the currentin the output circuits is substantially zero. Coils 25 -and25 of tubes14 and 15, respectively, are connected differentially across a pair ofline conductors 28 and 29. For driving electrons from the heatedcathodes these electrodes.

The type of vacuum tube present invention is controlled by currentchanges,- being similar tothat disclosed in like parts of the vacuum thetubes is pro-- of magnetic coils 22 and; the glass vessel for ennormally 16 and 16 to the anodes 20 and 20,3a battery '27 isconnectedbetween Pivoted employed in the a distant station where they mayterminate in the contacts of a transmitting key 30. hen the key 30 is inits normal position, or the position shown inthe drawing, battery 31 isdisconnected-from the line conductors, and consequently no current flowsin either the operating winding 13 or the magnetizing windings 9 and 10of the relay structure. However, if key 30. is operated in a mannerwhereby conductor 28 is made positive while the conductor 29 is madenegative, the field produced by coil 25 or the vacuum tube structure 14:will neutralize that of coil 22 and allowv current to flow from thefilament or cathode 16 to the'anode 20 of the. vacuum tube 14: and thusthrough the magnetizing windings 9 and 10 in series. When the polarityof the line is reversed, that is, the key is operated to make .the l neconductor 28 negative and the .ture. 11 will swing toward the pole piece8' line conductor 29 positive, the direction of the current in,operating winding 13 will be reversed, but coil. 25' in this case will0ppose the operation of coil 22 of the vacuum tube 15, thereby-allowingcurrent to flow throughthemagnetizing windings 9 and 10 Bin the samedirection as before, but through the 1 other vacuum tube.

When current is allowed to flow throu'gh thelmagetizing windings 9 and10, the armawhen a posi ive impulse is impressed on the line conductors,and will swing in the opposite direction when a negative impulse istransmitted.

'Although the invention has been 'i-llustrated in conjunction with aparticular circuit, it is obvious that changes may be made withoutdeparting-from the scope of v the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. A slgnaling system compr1s1ng'atransmission l-1ne,a magnetic windingconnected to said line, an electron discharge device operatingsubstantially without gas ionization located in the magnetic field ofsaid wind ing, said field serving to control the discharge of electronsin said*device,an'output circuit forsaid device and a-receiving devicein said output circuit responsive to current flowing therein.

2." In combination, an electron discharge device comprising currentcarrying means for controlling the discharge therethrough, circuitconnection for supplying current impulses to said current carryingmeans, an output circuit for said-discharge device in whichuni-directional magnetizing currents are generated, and a receivingdevice in said output circuit responsive to the current impulses in saldcircuit connections and the unidirectional magnetizing currentssupfflux, a second winding for setting up a field of flux, an electrondischarge device located in said fields, the flux of said second fieldserving normally to prevent the discharge of electrons, said first fieldserving to overcome the second field to permit'the discharge ofelectrons, an output circuit for said device, and a receiving mechanismin said output circuit responsive .to current flowing therein. A. Incombination, a source of electrical impulses of opposite polarity, apair of magnetically controlled electron discharge devices operatingsubstantially without gas ionization, input circuits for each of saiddevices, circuit connections for connecting said circuits differentiallyacross said source, and an output circuit for each of said deviceshaving a branch in which impulses are unidirectionally repeated.

5. In combination, a source of electrical impulses of opposite polarity,a pair of mag.- netic'ally controlled electron discharge devices.operating substantially without gas vacuum tubes consisting of anevacuated envelope, a cathode and a cylindrical anode, provided withmeans for magnetically'controlling the passage of electrons from thecathode to the anode, an input circuit for each of said tubes, circuitconnections for connecting said input circuits differentially acrosssaid source, a relay having operating and magnetizing windings, saidoperating winding being serially connected with said source and the.input circuits, while said magnetizing windings are associated with theoutput circuit of said vacuum tubes, and circuit connections wherebyuni-directional impulses are repeated from' said vacuum tubes to saidmagnetizing windings.

7. In a signaling system, a signaling circuit, a source of electricalimpulses of opposite polarity associated with said signaling ,circuit, apair of electron discharge devices operating substantially without gasionization responsive to current changes in. sald slgnahng clrcuit,input circuits for eachv an output circuit for said devices having abranch in which uni-directional impulses N are repeated.

In witness whereof, Ih'ereunto subscribe my name this, 29th day ofAugust, A. D.,

HAROLD W. NICHOLS.

